The Macy-Colby House is an excellent example of early-American architecture.  The original house was built by Thomas Macy, probably about 1649, and sold to Anthony Colby in 1654.  The structure was extensively modified by Obadiah Colby in the early 1740’s.  Eight generations of Colby’s lived in this house. 

The original builder, Thomas Macy, was Amesbury’s first town clerk, held many town offices, and was involved in numerous land transactions.  He left Amesbury in 1659, becoming the first European settler to establish his family on the island of Nantucket.  Macy became the subject of a poem by the 19^th century poet John Greenleaf Whittier entitled, The Exile, depicting the plight of Quakers in the religious intolerant Puritan society.

Anthony Colby came to America with the Winthrop fleet in 1630.  He first settled in Cambridge, and then moved to Ipswich by 1637.  He was in Salisbury by 1640, and was one of the first settlers of the new town of Amesbury in 1650.  He was active in town affairs, serving in various offices, including land and highway surveyor, and was part owner of a local sawmill. 

Anthony Colby’s descendants owned the Macy-Colby property for over 245 years.  In 1899, Moses Colby donated the house and property to the Bartlett Cemetery Association as a memorial to the Colby and Macy families, and to the people of Amesbury, Massachusetts.

The data and photograph on this page is courtesy of Kathy Colby.  Kathy Colby is on the committee that oversees the Macy-Colby House.  They want the Macy-Colby House to be open to the public and they especially want family members to have access to the house.  If you would like to see the house you may also contact Kathy through the email link or at 978-388-3054.  To get to the Macy-Colby House, exit 495 at the route 110 Amesbury exit, follow route 110 (Haverhill Road) east until you come to the next set of traffic lights, go right onto Main Street.  The Macy-Colby house is about a 500 feet on the right.  The house is brown in color with a bright colored door.  To get to the Macy-Colby House from Route 95, take Route 95 exit #58, go west onto Route 110, drive 1.2 miles.  At a set of lights, take a left onto Main Street.  The Macy Colby House is about 500 feet on the right.